PROCEDURAL SAFEGUARDS

A Guide to Parent Rights in Special Education has been prepared by the Office of Exceptional Children in the Ohio Department of Education.  This guide replaces Whose IDEA Is This? and is an important source of information for parents with a child who is suspected of having a disability or is currently identified with a disability under the Individual with Disabilities Education Improvement Act.    

Special education, for students ages 3 to 21, is guided by federal and state requirements. The federal requirements are referred to as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The state requirements are referred to as the Ohio Operating Standards for the Education of Children with Disabilities (Ohio Operating Standards). This guide can help you understand your rights and your child’s rights according to IDEA and the Ohio Operating Standards. It also gives you information and resources to help you understand your child’s special education supports and services.